THE BIG HAT NUISANCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LX, Issue 2356, 30 March 1897, Page 4

THE BIG HAT NUISANCE.

The Plotke high hat ordinance went into effect m Chicago ori : 4th February, and it was expected that some interest* ing experiences would .result m the theatres. Nothing of note, however, occurred m connection with t-h« new hat law at any of the places of amusement. The management of the various theatres were not disposed m any instance to live up to the strict letter of the law. The city*h atTift)' ftitiibWdf the la\v oh hand '.to., enforce its mandate, and, as a rule, whenever ladies were disposed to wear big, hats, they did so without molestation Most of them appreciated the situation, however, by coming m small bonnets, or else removing their head,gear after their arrival. "Ladies, hats off, please "— Hooleys. " Ladies will please take off their hats " Great Northern. "In accordance with the city ordinance, and to avoid unnecessary trouble, ladies will please remove their hats " — the Schiller. '* It is to the good judgment 1 of the fair sex that the managements makes this appeal : Re*move your hats during the performance." These- are extracts from the programmes of the various theatres. The notices, however, were about the extent to which the managers went m showing a disposition to abide by the law. The ladies seemed io appreciate the 'fact that the law was aimed at them, for they had quite generally removed their high hats and come m small bonnets. But high hats were worn m spite of the ordinance. But one theatre had a clear recovd. That was Mr A. Mi Palmer's Great Northern Theatre. If an officer had visited there with a thirst to make an arrest he would not have had it quenched. From the first the management had recognised the ordinance as a means to bringing about a much-desired reform, and endorsed it. The ushers were instructed to politely and quietly request each lady wearing a large hat to remove it on her entrance. The ushers did; this, and m no case met with any other, than gracious acquiescence. At the : Columbia there ■? were a few large hats scattered through the, audience on the lower floor, but no request other than the one printed on the programme was made. M'Vicker's took no notice whatever of the new ordinance, but the ladies seemed pretty well posted on the law. There were not more than 10 interdicted hata to . be seen m the parquet, and at the Grand the state of affairs was the same. • The Schiller managers believe m the law, and their ushers asked six women to please terriove their hats without making anybody indignant. The Chicago Opera-house management took no action regarding the ordinance. TheHopking paid no attention to the law, and it is said that the management will make a test cascof it as soon as an opportunity offers. They have opposed it from the start. ;